October 11th, 1998 (St. George s URC,
Hartlepool)
Proper 24 (RCL - year ‘C )
Readings: Luke
17:11-19
Luke
5:18-26
It must have been obvious to the disciples as they encountered the ten lepers with Jesus that the lepers needed healing. Likewise it must have been obvious to the crowds in the house that the man on the stretcher needed healing. In both cases, people encounter Jesus with a physical problem and go away cured. The lepers are pronounced officially clear of leprosy by the Temple authorities, and the paralyzed man picks up his bed and walks. To the casual observer, these are two impressive cures brought about by Jesus, miraculous cures even.
If we leave it there, though, we probably miss the whole point. Jesus wasn't here merely to perform miracle cures. He wasn't the latest in a long line of wonder-workers, sorcerers or magicians, something much deeper and more fundamental is going on in both of these stories.
Jesus seems to see a powerful link in these two cases between sin and disease. Now don't get me wrong, Jesus never says that illness or disease are CAUSED by sin or are PUNISHMENTS for sin, what he seems to be saying is that sin and disease are similar in a very powerful way. That similarity is best summed up in the word SEPARATION.
Take those ten lepers, for instance. As soon as they contracted the disease they were shunned. They were cut off from all contact with friends and family, cut off from every aspect of normal, day-to-day living. It is not possible to exaggerate the fear that people had of this disease called leprosy. Not much has changed. Here is a true story from a nurse working with The Leprosy Mission in Indonesia.
"Luther, aged 41, lived hiding in a tree hut in the jungle with his sister Keterina, both severely deformed from neglected leprosy. Luther's brother heard that a Leprosy Mission nurse regularly visited the area with medicine for leprosy. He told Luther and Keterina. They were afraid to enter the village, and so they moved to a shack on the outskirts. The nurse visited them with the medication and promised to return.
Tragically, a few days later, Luther was found dead. Someone from a neighbouring village had shot him for fear of catching the disease from just walking along the trail past Luther's shack.
Keterina has fled back to the jungle hut. Luther is dead. Will we ever have the chance to bring a cure to others who are still living in fear." The physical symptoms attached to leprosy can be horrific if the disease is untreated, but for leprosy sufferers, without a doubt, the worst symptom of the disease is separation from loved ones and isolation from a normal lifestyle. To have leprosy is to be shunned.
Much the same could be said about the paralysed man. Disability and disease were so often thought of as punishment from God. Disabled people would often be barred from religious ceremonies in the Temple for that very reason. Thankfully, we have for the most part dispensed with the idea of disability and disease being punishment from God, but still little has changed. You only have to try being wheelchair-bound for a few hours in any town centre to realise to what extent disabled people are separated out, excluded from so many everyday activities.
Both the lepers and the paralyzed man had obvious physical problems, and in both cases Jesus said, I can cure you, but more than that, I can also heal you. I can put right the separation that your physical condition produces, put I can also put right a much deeper separation - that between you and God.
Let's see how it happened. The man's friends carried him to the house where they knew Jesus was. They showed great faith. It was faith in Jesus, not themselves. It was faith that took a risk. If they were not successful people would laugh at them, the owner of the house would be angry at the damage. It was faith that took action. It was faith that was persistant. Not being able to get him through the door, they did not give up, but climbed onto the roof.
They carried him to Jesus. It might do us good to pause and reflect how we have been carried by others. How much in our lives have we depended on the prayers and on the support of friends ? Do we respond by prayerful support of others ? Your prayers can carry people to Jesus, even if they would never suspect you might be praying for them.
They carried him to Jesus, and lowered him through a hole in the roof. "Man, your sins are forgiven," says Jesus. Hang on a bit. Jesus didn't believe that sin caused paralysis did he ? No. But the man did, and so did the crowd. And the crowd is confused. "Surely only God can forgive sin" they say. "Now you're getting the point," says Jesus "You all reckon that this man's paralysis is caused by some sin he has committed. You reckon that he will never walk again unless his sins are forgiven. Only God can forgive sins. By your reckoning, if this man gets up and walks, then it proves that I have the authority to offer God's forgiveness. Watch this... Jesus turns to the paralysed man and says, "Get up and walk." He gets up, picks up the stretcher and walks off, praising God.
"What do you reckon is easier" says Jesus, "to cure a man of his paralysis, or to forgive him his sin ? I'm not the only one who can work miracle cures, but I am the only one who can offer God's forgiveness. I can cure, but more importantly, I can heal.
On another occasion, Jesus was walking along the road with his disciples. They came across a group of lepers. It was a mixed group, we are told that there was at least one Samaritan in the group. In normal circumstances a Jew wouldn't be seen dead in the company of a Samaritan. Leprosy had put all of that petty religious arguing into perspective. They grouped together for support and comfort, for company and fellowship.
From a distance they called out to Jesus and the disciples. One rule stated that if you were a leper and the wind was behind you, then you must be at least fifty yards away from a healthy traveller. They called out for mercy, maybe they expected some food or some money, or even a gift of warm clothing. Jesus gave them much more. He said, simply, "Go and present yourselves to the priests." In the case of leprosy, the priests were the public health inspectors. If they pronounced you clear, then you were clear, and could resume your place in normal society.
They walk off towards the village and out of sight. As they walk, they are cleansed of their leprosy. Nine run on into the village to find the nearest priest. One, a Samaritan, turns back and runs to Jesus. He falls on his knees and gives thanks. "Where are the other nine" asks Jesus, "Weren't they cured as well ? Go on your way now, you faith has healed you." The one is cured and healed, he has set his life right with God. The nine are cured, and are no doubt very happy, but they have missed an opportunity, they have missed a chance to see what Jesus can REALLY do for them. Their physical cure is only a pale shadow of the healing they could have found.
So this is Jesus. Not an itinerant wonder-worker, forty miracle cures a day. No, this is Jesus, offering healing, fulness of life, a way out from that numbing paralysis which is separation from God, a way out from that wasting disease which is distance from God. This is Jesus, offering God's forgiveness.
And this is Jesus, telling his disciples, telling his Church that we now exercise that healing gift. It is our task to offer that forgiveness and peace and that reconciliation to those whose lives are damaged or stunted by separation from God. Modern medicine is a dazzling science, its achievements are undoubted. But so many people don't need curing, they need healing. They crowd into doctors surgeries begging for repeat prescriptions of tranquillizers or anti-depressants; they pass in and out of psychiatric hospitals; they sit at home disillusioned with life; they dash from photocopier to fax machine desperately trying to fill their vacant lives with activity to make them feel worth something. They inhabit all walks of life, they are sitting right here in this congregation, they are you and me. We are all in constant need of God's healing touch. And having felt that touch, we are the ones to pass it on.
Let us pray...
Thank you Lord for my friends, who carry me by their prayers into your presence. Bless them for their faithfulness to you and their care for me. May I never grow weary of my ministry of intercession for them for those in need for those who don't know how to seek your salvation.
Take away everything that paralyzes me and prevents me walking in your ways: evil thoughts sinful impulses depressions and anxieties tensions within myself and between me and others.
Send your Holy Spirit that I may be freed from them for ever, and go on my way, glorifying your name. Amen.